Ball and socket joint



1934- G. B. INGERSOLL BALL AND SOCKET JOINT Originl Filed May 14, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1N VEN TOR.

Dec. 25, 1934. G. B..INGERSOLL 1,985,729

BALL AND SOCKETJOINT Original Filed May 14, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I; JNVENTOR. I .24 [a J KW Patented Dec. 25, 1934 a l I s i:

' s. t I I rst; ANnsocKET mi] I v G rkeflB i bii 'inesii assiznmentstq Thompson'lroducts; j r

.Re neyqed June 7; 1934 a: isolaimsfi (Qla 287- 90 I aMy invention" relatesto-improvements .inball shoulder 8 ,at'its lower end. ,The lower'adjustand socket-{joints :aswusediinltheceross tiered ingmembelfsiQ and;,1havetheindiameters fitted eonnectingithe steering arms fof thefrontaxlein to the hole '7- and bear against the shoulder 8. motor vehiclesix: z; 'lheulower adjusting members}! "and 10 have -IIhe.object of thisiinvention is,-;first, to;-pro.- tapered seats 12; onmhich contact :the lower I .vide a;join t 'withaball sciekets-havin'gamaximum tapered seats" 13 onthe socket'pieces 14 and 15. Lbearingsurfaces. on thesides of maximum thrust The upper adjusting members 16 and 17have taload; second',-to :provide:a;joint:havingan autopered seats 18 which1 contact'i'with the upper matiemeansfor adjusting eachisocket in. anoptaperedseatsila on the-,socketi'piee sj 14 and 15 I0 posite direction fromthat of themaximunrthrust gvhichfit qYe t th fb u -L The IJ H P Ol fi load thereont third: to provid a Joi t i ith-ba11 w hin ih iif si nd a ai st t etp a ez zawhich sockets having-:automaticmadjustment for wtheir Lisiastenedto the hgusing fi hv the screws 22; inner ball and,theirz-outer housing seatspfourth, y The spring- 2Q tends to; always fierce-the upper ton-providela joint capable. pfdong-iife because of adjusting rnernbers lfi and 17,into contact with theexactseating of its component parts; fifth,:,to the sopketpieces 14 an d 15; which in-turniare 15 provide?ag=jcintzshaving adjustable;andgremov forged by cpptagt withgthe; tapered seat-12 on able ball sockets inahousing havingwarstraight the lower adjusting n embers9 and lq into conbore; sixth, ito -'provide ba1l, joint,1 sockets having tactvvith the ball stud l thus automatically an automatic meansyieapable of exerting its-admaintaining all bearing surfaces in proper conjustingjorces throughout, the totalwcircurnfertact and, liminating destructive wear on the 20 enceofi the hall socls ii a sachl-orf their en pa s, ltsaiabenbt tha a he ad ent rt rovide al Q fi 2 iointshavingseats zine, members 9, 19,-; ie-and 17 are-provided with and adjusting parts that easily zlend ithemselves a'iiat -surtace 23 against vvhieh contacts a corto manufacture irgun,pressed-.stee1 parts,- if responding flat surface 24"on vthe socket pieces 5 desired. i j: i w 1 4 and 15 thus prqviding tor transferring any 25 ,I attainthesepbiects bvithe mechanismillustransverse thrust load on the ball stud 1 to the trated in the apcompanying drawings, inwhich, housing 6. A bracket 25 is fastened to the plate Figure 1 is -a pla n,viewvof lthe balland socket 21 and fitsbetween the socket pieces 14 and 15 joint as assembled cto a cross tie; rod; of a front andthus maintains themin a; correct position a ei s-flra ee vat ao hal a t o e c vvefi ient v ns the ax m t r t 'loa 30 r joint assernhled to a cross-tierqdaqt-agfrqntaxle; IThe housings 6 are threaded. andkclamped to Fi .3 ep -i'v wlp 'i h yb t and kfi J'Q nfi the tiered 26. The coupling 27-providesfor sup- .assernbledt fiQe in rm 01a; front x e: Fig: plying lubricant to the ball joint'an'cirall wearing ;4. i iQn@ ele ipnpi h bai lv il 6K 1 -surfaces'. f 2. w: 35 .iqi a semb sd- Q isw ring gflll siu i vE -i" ,1

Igclaim: f' v 11; 1's": se ienal:Yi WiPitih mto the in 1 E a -:;;51. 'In aballrand socket joint, the'icombination i 3? P BQ QR YE QUh it WPQRl I E 6+6 ,of a. housing having abore'ya pair ofcspaced w?u5 a Y4W. P eimnt 9 1111 9 :in'embe'r'suin thetr bore roff said housing, each of .1 4 F 51 fi air aa W 9 3 9 h. said spaced membersih'aving an' inner tapered 40 ius m m m s; Fi 9, slde v y etv 'surface'andthrust surfacesuadjacentits ends; a 40 we'v maimediefiusiin imsmpe i Fi pair of isocket-pieces,each of said socket pieces v i a W 1" 39 V? ment one ad us ms "'havifig two"externaltaperedsurfacesjone of the member onethe i elflrr q Fiat ri i l a external tapered 'surfaces' -"iof "each: said socket .Y eWrP -PQQ-Q th h ll $8 5 .91. so ke pi ces; ,pi'eces engagingthe innertapered' surface of one 245 1. Sid? Vi w i0 j n l i 1 theiball seats i9 1 .SQQk of said spaced. members, each of said socket pieces :Di S;x .1 ,1 nd viewer: one of the b ll la s .being: further: provided. with surfacesvengaging i ,orpsocket.piecesifisandtFign14,:a'ssectional' viewzof f 'the thrust;surfa,cesl adjacent :th nd jf am :xtheiabove-mehtionedzball seator ockt' iec'e' on spaced'r'nembe'rs, a" pair-cotslidable'members in theJIineKMQMpFig;1115:? :451;; 1 i the bore of said housing, each of said pair of Similar numerals refer to similar parts fslidablemembrs' having an inner-tapered surthroughout the several views.x The'fliallstud l is sface ing :th'ew' external tapered surfacejof Eassembled in the boss 2 of the steering arm 3 of a one of saidpair of. socket pieces, each of said slid- -front axle assembly as used in m'otdr'vehiclesfbeiable members bein g' furtheriprovided; acent .ingheld-therein by the nut 4 and better pin' "5. its ends, with thrustsurfa'ces engaging one of said iThehousing:fi-'has;a 'straightfhole'ZIWhiclY 'has a pair: ofgsocket pieces, aball stud extending of a housing having a bore, a stud having a ball end extendin withinthe bore of, the hqusing, socket "pieces enclosing the ball endof saidstud, each of said socket pieces being provided with an external tapered surface and thrust surfaces ad jacent its ends, a plurality of adjusting members enclosingsaid socket pieces, each of said ladjust ing members being providedwith' surfacesen gaging the tapered and thrustgsurfaces'on one pf said socket pieces, and impairs gror' -,adj11 tably,'

maintaining said adjusting "members in contact with said socket pieces, said socket pieces thereby being adjustably maintained'incontactwitlr the" ball end of said stud.

3. In a ball and socket joint, the combination of a housing having a bore, a stud having a ball end extending. withinthe bore o'f said housing, socket pieces enclosing the ball' end' of said='stud, fixed -m'embers' enclosing-said socket" pieces, ad'- -,iustin g members enclosing saidsocket pieces," and meansfor forcing said adjusting members along thebor of=said housing, said means thereby urging I said 'socket I pieces transversely into contact wi'th the ballbnd-of saidstud. I 1 4. In a ball and socket joint," the combination of -housingwith a-bore, a stud' naving aJ-ball end extending-within the bore of' said housing; a pair of socket'ipieces i enclosing sthef ball end of -[said stu'dg 'each of saidsocket pieces having a-pair of inclined ilat surfaces oppositelydisposed, together vi itli- -a'p'airof thrust'surfaces, a p'air'of fixed members each-havinga flat incl'inedsurface together withfa' pair" of' thrusts'uriaces; a p'air of jslidable mambers-eachhaving a fiatinclin ed surface oppositely disposed from the flat inclined surfaces-on said fixed m'ernbers, said slidable-members each being =further providedwithT-a pair of thrust-surraces, and'means for ad juslt'abl'y' maintaining said flxed an'd said sl-i'dablemembers' in contactwith said socket pieces, the flat inclined and-thri i's t surfaces on said fixed and slidable member's'con- "tacting with the'similar surfaces 'on' said socket pieces". I 5. In a ball and socket joint for connecting a tie rodiand a lever, thec'ombination of a housing adapted to beconnectedto a tie rod, said housing beingiprovided witha bore, a -stud adapted to be connected to a lever, said stud havinga ball end extending within the boreofisaid housing, socket pieces enclosing the ball end of said stud,.e'ach of said socket pieces being provided with apair of ,oppositely inclinedsurfaces together with: a pluralityof thrust surfaces, a plurality of fixed members, each oftzsaid fixed memberszcont'acting with .one 50f the;oppositely inclined surfacesof each of said socket pie'ceaeachof saidfixed members further. contacting .with theuthrust surfaces on one. of said socket pieces, apluralityv of slidable members, each contacting with one of the oppo- -sitely inclined-surfacesuof each-of said socket pieces, each of. said slidablemembers; further 'contactingwiththeithrust surface onione of said socket pleces,'- and .means formaintaining said slidablemembers? incontact with said socket pieces: P w 6. stud havinga hall end extending within the bore ofisald housing, .aplurality: of =.socket:.pieoes. enclosing. the hall end 01 said stud, each-of said socket pieces-having flat surfaces oppositely inclined,-,toaether with thrust surfaces, a plurality 'piecesin contact ball of said stud.

9'. Ida ball and-socket joint,'the combination arbaII-and:socketuioint, a=housingpa" pieces.-..q1. 35- i o .1 c .o 1 =11. Iniaball and socket-joint, the combination :ofahousing .iwith abore, a stud having a ball end extending within the bore of said housing, a .plurality of fixed members in said housing, each .aor saidzfixed members having a:.tapered surface,

of slidabie members in said housing, each of said slidable members contacting with one of the oppositely inclined flat surfaces of said socket pieces, each of said slidable members further contacting with the thrust surfaces on said socket pieces, and means. for maintainingsaid ,slidable members in contact with said socket'ipieces.

7. In a ball and socket 'j0int,'the"comb'ination of a housing having a straight bore, a stud having a ball end extending within the bore of said housing, apair of fixed seats, having tapered surfaces, in the bore of said housing, said pair of fixed [seats beingdisposedbelow the center of the ball .0: said smaxa' pairof slidable members, having tapered surraeesang he bore of said housing, said pair of slidable members being disposed above the jcenter off the ball cf said stud, a plurality of socket-pieces enclosing the ball end of said stud,

said, plurality of socket pieces being slidably mounted on the tapered surfaces of said fixed and 'said'slidable members,asaid socket pieces being thereby restrained from revolving relative to said fixedandsaid slidable members, and means, suitably anchored, engaging and forcing-the tapered surfaces oisaid slidable members against thetapered surfaces 01' said socket'pleces, said means thereby 'adjustably maintaining said socket pieces in contactwith saidball-stud.

In a ball'and socket joint, the combination of a=housinghaving a bore, a. stud'having a ball extending within theboreof said housing, a pmralltyof spaced members in' the bore of said housing, each of saidspa'ced members being provided with a pairof thrust surfaces, each of said within said spaced members, each of-said socket pieces having tapered surfaces engaging the thrust surfaces of said spaced members, and means for adjustably maintaining said socket with said fixed members and the of a housing with a bore, a stud having a ball end extending within said bore, a plurality of socket -pieoe'sengaging'the ball end of said stud, each of said'socket pieces being made from material of uniform section, each of said socket pieces being further provided with taperedsurfaces, a pmrality of adjusting members engaging said socket pieces, said adjusting members being made from material of uniform section, each or said adjusting" members'being further-provided with tapered surfaces engaging theltapered surfaces of said socket pieces, and means engaging and forcing said adjusting-members in" "contact with said s'ocketpiec'ies, said socket pieces being thereby adfjustably maintained in contact with the ball end -'of'said stud. i a

10. n a balljand socket joint comprising a ban said adjustin'g members being made from material of uniform section,- each' ofsaidadjusting members having one or more displaced sections, saiddisplaced sections forming thrust surfaces for engaging the tapered surfaces of said-socket socket pieces engaging the ball end of said stud, said socket pieces being slidably mounted on the tapered surfaces of said. fixed members, said socket pieces being thereby restrained from revolving relative to said fixed members, a plurality of slidable members in said housing, said slidable members having tapered surfaces engaging said socket pieces, said slidable members being thereby restrained from revolving relative to said socket pieces, and means for adjustably maintaining said socket pieces in contact with the ball end of said stud together with the tapered surfaces of said fixed and said slidable members.

12. In a ball and socket joint, the combination of a housing, a ball end, a plurality of socket members arranged in said housing and enclosing said ball end, each of said socket members having flattened portions, wedging members enclosing said socket members, said wedging members having flattened portions engaging the fiattened portions of said socket members, and means engaging said wedging members, said means forcing said wedging members and said socket members together.

13. A ball joint connection comprising a ball stud, a housing having a cylindrical bore with an inturned radial flange at its upper end having an opening to admit the ball stud, a pair of segmental shells each having an outer surface fitting within the cylindrical bore of the housing and having inner flat surfaces inclined relative to the axis of the cylindrical bore, and ball seat members having inner bearing surfaces for en- 'gaging the ball and outer flat surfaces adapted to coact with the inclined flat surfaces of the segmental shells.

14. A ball joint connection comprising a ball stud, a housing having a cylindrical bore with an inturned radial flange at its upper end having an opening to admit theball stud, a pair of segmental shells each having an outer surface fitting within the cylindrical bore of the housing and inner surfaces defining a plane surface inclined relative to the axis of the cylindrical bore, said shells being oppositely disposed in said bore with the big ends thereof bearing against the inner surface of the radial flange, ball seat members having inner bearing surfaces for engaging the ball and outer plane surfaces adapted to coact with the inclined plane surfaces of the segmental shells, and means for urging the ball and ball seat members towards the big ends of the segmental shells whereby to take up looseness in the ball joint.

15. A ball joint, comprising a housing, detached members providing oppositely inclined opposed flat surfaces withinsaid housing, a ball of a ball stud positioned within said housing, separate ball seats cooperatively associated with said ball and. said inclined surfaces and resilient means for maintaining said ball seats in wedging engagement with said ball and said members.

. 16. In a ball and socket joint, a socket housing, members therein providing inner convergent plane surfaces, a ball end of a stud within said housing, ball seats engaging said ball and having outer convergent plane surfaces conforming to and in constant surface contact with said first mentioned plane surfaces for varying adjustments of said ball seats therealong and means urging said ball seats into wedging engagement with said ball end and said members.

1'7. In a ball and socket joint comprising a housing and a ball stud extending therein, the combination of a plurality of socket pieces enclosing said ball stud, said socket pieces being made frommateri'al of uniform section, each of said socket pieces being provided with an inclined thrust surface and a plurality of additional thrust surfaces, and annular means having tapered surfaces engaging the inclined thrust surfaces of said socket pieces and other surfaces engaging said additional thrust surfaces.

18. In a ball and socket joint, the combination with a cylindrical socket housing and a ball end of a member disposed therein, of means disposed within said housing forming an automatic take-up bearing for said ball end including a plurality of coacting members, some of said members having discontinuous bearing surfaces engaging said ball end and other of said members having plane surfaces in slidingcontact with said first members, said plane surfaces lying in a plane inclined at an angle to the axis of said housing and resilient means acting against one of said coacting members to constantly urge relative sliding movement of said coacting members along said inclined surfaces to. effect closer contact between said bearing surfaces and said ball end. GEORGE B. INGERSOLL. 

